From Woolwich to East Dulwich, it’s easy to while a day away in SE London
For those who rarely venture south of the river, South East London can feel like an area shrouded in mystery. But there's actually loads to do here, especially when you look a little further than Vauxhall or Greenwich. Here’s how to pack a full day of fun and excitement into a trip to South East.
Image credit: Brockwell Lido via Facebook
Morning
What better way to start your day than with a freezing cold swim? Get your blood pumping and your body moving in the early morning with a trip to Brockwell Lido (which is actually free to use if you’re a Southwark resident). Once you’ve smashed a couple of lengths and warmed up again, wander down to the Herne Hill branch of Blackbird Bakery, an artisan baker with shops and cafes dotted around the area. Pick up some freshly baked bread or pastries and a quality coffee. With brunch in tow, make your way down to the immensely popular Crystal Palace Park. Much more exciting than a regular park, here you’ll find a maze (that’s been here since 1870), an urban farm (that’s definitely not just for children) and a beautiful boating lake (where you can rent a pedalo for a fiver!).
Image credit: Horniman Museum and Gardens via Facebook
Afternoon
When you’ve eventually found your way out of Crystal Palace’s maze, then head to Forest Hill for one of London’s most underrated museums! The Horniman Museum is one of South London’s hidden gems, a (mainly) free tourist spot that both adults and kids adore. The heart of the gallery is an extensive natural history display of taxidermy, skeletons and specimens preserved in fluid, including an impressive life size walrus. Downstairs they have an aquarium and outside is a beautiful butterfly house. They also have an exhibition of over 1300 musical instruments from around the world. Late afternoon, head to Peckham and catch a film at the local legend that is Peckhamplex. Tickets for this cinema are £4.99 all day, every day, meaning you can catch a Hollywood blockbuster without paying over the odds for a multiplex cinema ticket. You might even want to stop off at Franks multi-story carpark bar for a drink while the sun sets.
Image credit: The Begging Bowl via Facebook
Evening
All that exploring has no doubt helped you work up an appetite, and South East boats far too many great food places to mention. If you want to stay in the Peckham area, the go to spot is Bellenden Road. Here you have The Begging Bowl, a stunning Thai concept restaurant, Artusi, a mediterranean spot with a small but refined menu, and Made of Dough, a trendy, award-winning sourdough pizza spot. More amazing pizza can be found around 10-minutes away, in Camberwell. Theo’s Pizzeria is a small spot with amazing pizza and gluten free options. Or if you’ve ventured down on a Sunday, The Crooked Well around the corner offers an award-winning Sunday lunch.
Image credit: Little Nan's Bar via Facebook
Late Night
With Goldsmiths and Camberwell School of Art in the vicinity, it’s no surprise that the nightlife around here is pretty damn good. Head over to Deptford in time for happy hour, stopping off first at Job Centre for a craft beer. Little Nan’s can be found in the arches underneath Deptford Overground station, and is a funky cocktail bar filled with antique wares and retro décor. Grab a teapot cocktail before heading back towards Peckham for more nightlife. Sink a cocktail (or two) in Peckham’s trendy Bar Story, before heading to Bussey Building for a roof top bar and loads of busy club nights. Towards the top of Peckham Rye is Canavan’s Pool Club, a place to play pool and partake in karaoke if you head down on the right nights. Not yet had enough? Head to Venue in New Cross, a huge club where the messiest of nights tend to end up…